"The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more things you'll have to express gratitude for." - Zig Ziglar

During the last few weeks I’ve really been focused on expressing more gratitude in my life. There have been many times during my knee surgery recovery that I have felt a little down about things. I’ve tried to use some of my own advice that I’ve not only tried to help others with, but I have received the same help from different people too. That help was the idea about wrapping your arms around the down, sad, anger, etc… whatever those feelings and emotions are, and then learn from those feelings and move on. I’ve really tried to give it 15 – 30 minutes some time to really get in touch with those feelings and learn from them. Then I add some gratitude to the process and I have found that gratitude will help make those feelings hurt less so that I can move on and not let them hold me back from doing things I have to do and from living life.

We got through a big event at our house this past week. Both of our kids went off to college. It’s been a real emotional tug-of-war for me with both of them gone now. I’m trying to focus on how proud I am of both of them along with being excited for all the opportunities that will come their way too. When I focus on the gratitude part of them being my kids and all the great memories of them growing up and the many lessons they have taught me; that helps in dealing with them being gone. This summer especially since I was on the mend from my knee surgery for around half the summer, they both were a big help to me. Their sacrifices were a difference maker for me and helped me to get to this point of being more self-sufficient and getting around better.

There is also a lot of gratitude for me knowing that my wife and I will have more time for each other and really, more time for ourselves too. We have been getting in touch with old friends and plan on doing more things with them as time goes on with our kids being mostly out of the house. School is starting again soon, so I am getting in that frame of mind to get things ready for the start of school after Labor Day. Again, I’m looking at the start with gratitude since I do enjoy doing what I’m doing along with the fact that I get to work with some great students and staff.

So take a look as to where you are at in your life and if having some more gratitude about things can make a difference for you. Just try it and I’d be willing to say that you will find things around you looking a whole lot better. In fact, let me know how it goes as you know, I love learning things from others when it comes to success and leadership principles.